MoFA condemns setting of Macedonia's flag on fire in Tirana

Skopje, 24 November 2012 (MIA) - 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) strongly condemns yesterday's act of vandalism in Tirana, namely setting of Macedonia's flag on fire in the city center, and calls the authorities to find and bring the perpetrators to justice. 

"We consider that this uncivilized act is not in favor of the Macedonian-Albanian friendly relations, especially considering the fact that this event took place after the official visit of Macedonia's Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski to Albania, during which the two countries reaffirmed the good-neighborly relations, mutual trust and friendship. Hence, it is very important to not allow for the relations, which we wish to be developed in European spirit, to be harmed," MoFA said Saturday in a press release.

Macedonia's Embassy in Tirana asked an official explanation from Albania's Ministry of Interior. The Ministry of Interior also summoned Albania's Ambassador to Macedonia Arben Cejku for talks on the matter. 

MoFA expects for Albania's relevant institutions to take most urgent measures for disclosing and bringing the perpetrators to justice. It also expects for Albania's authorities to strongly condemn this act of vandalism, which provokes intolerance and deeply hurts the feelings of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, the press release reads.